高三英语上学期半期考试试题
- 1、下载文档前请自行甄别文档内容的完整性,平台不提供额外的编辑、内容补充、找答案等附加服务。
- 2、"仅部分预览"的文档,不可在线预览部分如存在完整性等问题,可反馈申请退款(可完整预览的文档不适用该条件!)。
- 3、如文档侵犯您的权益,请联系客服反馈,我们会尽快为您处理(人工客服工作时间:9:00-18:30)。
第七中学2021届高三英语上学期半期考试试题
考试时间是是:120分钟满分:150分
考前须知:
答卷前,所有考生必须将本人的姓名、准考证号填写上在答题卡上。
答题时,必须将答案写在答题卡上,写在套本套试卷及草稿纸上无效。
在在考试完毕之后以后,将本套试卷和答题卡一起交回。
第一局部听力〔一共两节,满分是30分〕
第一卷
做题时,先将答案标在试卷上。
录音内容完毕以后,你将有两分钟的时间是将试卷上之答案转涂到答题卡上。
第一节〔一共 5 小题;每一小题 1.5 分,满分是 7.5 分〕
听下面 5 段对话。
每段对话后有一个小题,从题中所给的 A、B、C 三个选项里面选出最正确选项,并标在试卷的相应位置。
听完每段对话后,你都有 10 秒钟的时间是来答复有关小题和阅读下一小题。
每段对话仅读一遍。
How was the weather this afternoon?
A. Clear.
B. Cloudy.
C. Windy.
Why can’t the man hear the announcers?
The sound is turned off.
They are speaking softly.
The woman is talking on the phone.
How much is the shirt?
A. $1.
B. $3.
C. $4.
What was the woman’s opinion of Thailand?
The food was great.
The weather was bad.
The people were friendly.
What is the man doing?
Getting dressed.
Supporting the woman.
Preparing the woman for an interview.
第二节〔一共 15 小题;每一小题 1.5 分,满分是 22.5 分〕
听下面 5 段对话或者独白。
每段对话或者独白后有几个小题,从题中所给的 A、B、C 三个选项里面选出最正确选项,并标在试卷的相应位置。
听每段对话或者独白前,你将有时间是阅读各个小题,每一小题 5 秒钟;听完后,各小题将给出 5 秒钟的答题时间是。
每段对话或者独白读两遍。
听第 6 段材料,答复第 6、7 题。
Where might the family be right now?
A. At a hotel.
B. At the border.
C. At a music festival.
What will the kids most likely be returning with?
A. Toys.
B. Food.
C. Drinks.
听第 7 段材料,答复第 8 至 10 题。
What are the speakers mainly talking about?
The cost of a package.
The sender of a package.
The contents of a package.
Where was the package damaged?
A. In Philadelphia.
B. In Paris.
C. In Washington
D.C.
How will the man get the information the woman wants?
A. From a sticker.
B. From a computer.
C. From a phone call.
听第 8 段材料,答复第 11 至 13 题。
Who did Brent talk to earlier?
A. Charlene.
B. Mrs. Lang.
C. Mr. Hooper.
What does the woman plan to join?
A. The book club.
B. The video club.
C. The basketball team.
Where is Brent’s classroom?
A. Across from the gym.
B. On the 2nd floor.
C. Not far from the computer lab. 听第 9 段材料,答复第 14 至 17 题。
Where did the woman’s story take place?
A. In the cafeteria.
B. In a science lab.
C. On the sidewalk.
What happened in the man’s story?
He went to a science lab.
He walked into something.
He fell down in front of his friends.
Who is the woman talking to?
A. Her dad.
B. A teacher.
C. A headmaster.
What do the speakers’ stories have in common?
They were embarrassing.
They are both cool stories.
They happened a long time ago.
听第 10 段材料,答复第 18 至 20 题。
Who was the first person to see Antarctica in 1820?
A. A Russian.
B. An Englishman.
C. An American.
How is Antarctica’s surface most often described?
A. An island of ice.
B. A desert of ice.
C. A mountain of ice.
What is forbidden in Antarctica?
A. Research.
B. Exercise.
C. Mining.
第二局部阅读理解〔一共两节,满分是 40 分〕
第一节〔一共 15 小题;每一小题 2 分,满分是 30 分〕
阅读以下短文,从每一小题所给的四个选项〔A、B、C 和 D〕中,选出最正确选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
Inspiring young minds!
TOKNOW Magazine is a big hit in the world of children’s publishing, bringi ng a unique combination of challenging ideas and good fun to young fans every month.
What is so special about TOKNOW magazine? Well, TOKNOW has no ads or promotions inside. Instead, it is jam-packed with serious ideas. TOKNOW makes complex ideas attractive and What’s inside?
Every month the magazine introduces a fresh new topic with articles, experiments and creative
Sounds too good to be true?
Take a look online — evidence shows that thousands of teachers and parents know a good thing when they see it and recommend TOKNOW to their friends.
Happy Birthday All Year!
What could be more fun than a gift that keeps coming through the letterbox every month?
The first magazine with your gift message will arrive in time for the special day. SUBSCRIBE NOW
□Annual Subscription
Europe £55Rest of World £65
□Annual Subscription with Gift Pack
Includes a Mammoth Map, a passport Puzzle Booklet, and Subscription Europe £60 Rest of World £70
Refund Policy — the subscription can be cancelled within 28 days and you can get your money back.
Why is TOKNOW a special magazine?
It entertains young parents.
It provides serious advertisements.
It publishes popular science fictions.
It combines fun with complex concepts.
How much should you pay if you make a 12-month subscription to TOKNOW with gift pack from China?
A. £70.
B. £65.
C. £60.
D. £55 .
Subscribers of TOKNOW would get .
free birthday presents
full refund within 28 days
membership of the TOKNOW club
chances to meet the experts in person
B
One hot August afternoon, Richard Allen dropped off his last passenger, Mrs. Carey. Lifting two grocery bags, he followed her across the yard and stood on the step of her house. Glancing up, he saw a large wasp (黄蜂) nest under the roof. Allen had heard that wasps can become more likely to sting in summer. He mentioned this to Mrs. Carey, who had opened the door.
“Oh, they don’t bother me,〞she said lightly. “I go in and out all the time.〞Anxiously, Allen looked at the nest again—to see the wasps flying straight at him. “Hurry!〞he shouted to Mrs. Carey. “Get in!〞
She stepped quickly inside. Allen ran for his mini-bus. Too late; they were upon
him. Just as he jumped aboard, half a dozen red spots showed on his arm, and he felt more on his back and shoulders.
As he was driving down the road, Allen felt as if something was burning at the back of his neck, and the “fire〞 was spreading forward toward his face. An immediate anxiety took hold of him. Allen knew that stings could cause some persons to die. But he had been stung the previous summer and the after-effects soon passed. However, what he didn’t know was that the first sting had turned his body into a time bomb waiting for the next to set off a deadly explosion.
Miles from the nearest medical assistance, Allen began to feel his tongue thick and heavy and his heartbeat louder. Most frightening, he felt his breathing more and more difficult. He reached for the radio microphone, trying to call the mini-bus center, but his words were hardly understandable. Signals were also poor that far out. He knew a rescue team was on 24-hour duty at the Amherst Fire Department’s north station. So his best chance was to make a run for it.
Rushing down the mountain, Allen tried not to panic, focusing his mind on each sharp turn. He was almost through the last of them when he felt sure he was going into shock (休克). Just then he reached for the radio microphone again.
“Call fire station,〞he shouted, concentrating to form the words. “Emergency. Bee sting.
Emergency. There in ten minutes.〞“Five-ten,〞 the center replied.
Hold on, Allen thought. Keep your eyes open. Breathe. Keep awake.
At last he reached the station. Two firemen ran out. Allen felt their hands grasp
him before he hit the ground. You made it, he thought.
According to the passage, wasps are more likely to attack when .
there are huge noises
strangers are approaching
the hottest season comes around
the air is filled with food smell
Allen didn’t know that if stung by wasps again, he would .
have no after-effects
be likely to lose his life
become more sensitive
suffer from sharper pain
Allen’s first attempt to contact the mini-bus center failed because .
no one was on duty
he was in a state of shock
his radio equipment was broken
he was unable to speak clearly
Which would be the best title for the passage?
A. Wasps, Bloody Killers
B. War Against Wasps
C. Allen, A Helpless Driver
D. A Race Against Death
C
Although biological mechanisms ( 机制 ) do not work with the accuracy or stability
of modern clocks, a sense of time and its rhythm is built into the functioning of the human body. Our heart, with its beating pulse, is the clock-like internal rhythm of which we are most aware.
There are, however, other biological timekeepers that play important roles in our lives. These inner clocks are generally very regular, but they c an also be “reset〞and will fall in step with a different rhythm. Even after we take a long flight across the Atlantic or Pacific, our lack of synchronization (同步) with the local time slowly disappears.
Though known to biologists for over 200 years, biological clocks are the subject of a lot of
research nowadays. The question is to what extent this human body rhythm is an autonomous mechanism rather than a simple response to external signals, such as changes in the level of light, the times of meals, or social interactions with our surroundings. It has not been easy to find the answer, but careful laboratory experiments have led to the conclusion that our body contains an autonomous timekeeper. Individuals who volunteered to be kept in artificial isolation with no time clues also helped to find the answer. In 2021, a French researcher spent two months in a cold cave, 375 feet underground in the Alps. The Frenchman called his above-ground supporters by telephone whenever he ate, went to sleep, and woke, and he recorded in detail his thoughts and impressions of the passage of time. He found himself affected by definite internal time signals. His subjective impression of the time of the day and his periods of sleep and waking, was slightly longer than
25 hours. When he came out of the cave, his internal timer was many hours out of phase with the external 24-hour clock.
The example of a long flight in Paragraph 2 supports the idea that . airplane flights make most people tired
humans should avoid long-distance travel
humans adjust to the natural rhythms around them
trans-Pacific flights take longer than trans-Atlantic flights
The French researcher in Paragraph 3 did the experiment to .
prove the existence of human body rhythms
explain how human body rhythms work
explore how independent human body rhythms are
show how to conduct a research on human body rhythms
The French researcher probably chose the location primarily to .
avoid any effects of the outside
restrict his access to food and water
improve his ability to sleep soundly
limit his communication with other humans
The tone of the passage is best described as .
A. playful
B. objective
C. concerned
D. argumentative
D
You feel happiest when you create a healthy balance between giving and receiving.
If yo u give and give without making time to fill your own needs, then it’s likely you will burn out, or feel upset. When you take and take without giving anything back, you never feel fulfilled, so you are always searching for ways to fill the void in your life.
The way to create a healthy balance between giving and receiving is to know and then live by your values. I break values up into two groups which I call being and having values. Your being values are the character traits of the ideal person you would like to be. I suggest to my clients that they choose three being values that they are willing to make a commitment to live by. An example of some being values are: kind, loving, generous, inspirational, peaceful, wise and even powerful. By acting on these values, you give to others through your actions and you inspire others by being a positive role model. Mastering being these character traits becomes your life purpose.
Your having values are the feelings you need to create in order to be happy. These could be companionship, achievement, and support, being valued or financial security. This is what you receive. You take responsibility for filling your own needs by taking steps to create these feelings
and conditions in your life.
When you make a commitment to live by your being values, it becomes easier to make conscious choices rather than reactionary ones. If your usual pattern is to talk about your problems, you could choose to think and act like a calm person. A calm person might go for a walk, meditate ( 沉思 ), or set a time limit before responding.
If your usual pattern is to worry, you could choose to act like a responsible or wise person. In other words, you would act like the person you choose to be—this is the key to personal power.
When you choose to act on your values, you not only feel good about yourself, you reinforce
(加强) your chosen beliefs. Over time acting in this way changes how you see the world, and in turn the way other people think of you.
The main purpose of this passage is to .
inform the readers how to be truly happy
persuade the readers to make a commitment
explain to the readers what personal values are
instruct the readers how to make wise choices
The underlined word “void〞 in Paragraph 1 means .
A. a state of confusion
B. a break of continuity
C. a feeling of emptiness
D. an absence of one’s mind
According to the text, living by your being values, you would .
A. gain a lot of power
B. fill your own needs
C. seek all human virtues
D. form positive personality
What can be inferred from the text?
Having values are better than being values.
A calm person does not choose to complain.
The way other people think of you decides who you are.
A responsible person does not care about financial security.
第二节〔一共 5 小题;每一小题 2 分,满分是 10 分〕
根据短文内容,从短文后的选项里面选出能填入空白处的最正确选项。
选项里面有两项为多余选项。
Many visitors to the UK go straight to London and never venture outside the capital. What a pity! 36 , in any one of Britain’s largest areas of protected countryside, or its national parks.
The Cairngorms
The Cairngorms is a national park located in northern Scotland. With some of the country’s highest mountains, it is known as the best place for skiing. Fishing is also popular, along with Scotland’s national game, golf. 37 —This is the home of the red deer, red squirrel and golden eagle.
The Lake District
Over the border in England is the Lake District, originally made famous by Romantic poet William Wordsworth who was born here and got many ideas for his poems from this beautiful place. 38 . If you are not interested in literature, you may also feast your eyes on the breathtaking views here.
The Giant’s Causeway
Cross the Irish Sea lies the Giant’s Causeway, a set of stone columns formed by volcanic activities sixty million years ago. As legend has it, it was built by warrior giant Finn McCool who walked from Northern Ireland to fight his enemy in Scotland.
39 . They are not complete because the giant fell asleep on the way.
The English Coast
The coastline of England is just as amazing as the Gold Coast in Australia. Thousands of visitors come here to explore the beauty along the coastline. The white cliffs of Dover, the busy Brighton pier ( 码头 ), the gorgeous Cornish Beach, to name just a few. Most interestingly, on some beaches, you can still find fossils dating back to the Jurassic era. 40 , which gives a mysterious touch to the English Coast. Wildlife enthusiasts are well rewarded here
This leaves a deep impression on visitors to the UK
There is a huge variety of landscape only a few hours away
Chil dren’s writers have found inspiration here, too
The columns are commonly compared to the steps of the giant
Britain is covered by thick forests and is home to many animals
The first marine dinosaur remains were found in the cliffs here
第三局部英语知识运用〔一共三节,满分是 45 分〕
第一节完形填空〔一共20小题;每一小题1.5分;满分是30分〕
阅读下面短文,从 A、B、C、D 四个选项里面,选出可以填入空白处的最正确选项,并在答题卡上相应番号处将该项涂黑。
I cannot remember a point in my life when I desired anything other than becoming
a teacher. As a child, I played 41 with my little cousins and friends just so I could practice for my future career. But what I didn’t realize as a child was how 42 my dream was. I camefrom a middle–class family who always 43 to make ends meet. My dream of attending the University of Connecticut seemed
so out of 44 , but I wasn’t willing to 45 for anything less.
In the beginning of my senior year in high school, I began applying to colleges,
but in my heart I had already made my 46 . The University of Connecticut was the
one. But a huge hurdle stood between me and my dream — 47 of financial resources. Although I applied for every scholarship I could get my hands on, I didn’t
know if I would 48 for any.
After the holidays, my friends started receiving their 49 letters
from colleges, and I 50 expected mine. Finally, a letter arrived from
the University of Connecticut. I opened the envelope with trembling hands as tears 51 my eyes. I had been accepted! I cried for a while, feeling both excited
and 52 . What if I was denied admission because of my financial status? My parents couldn’t 53 that kind of money. However, they taught me never to
54 on my dreams, regardless of the obstacles.
Months went by. At last, a letter arrived. But it was a false alarm. The letter
only 55 more information to process my application. This happened over and over.
I was about to lose hope 56 a big envelope arrived. I took it to my teacher.
After reading the document, he looked up at me with a huge smile on his face and
told me that I 57 two of the scholarships! I was in a 58 at first, then cried.
I actually made my dream come true.
I’m now a junior, 59 in English. Next year, my dream will become a reality. I will be a 60 . I live by this quote: “Reach for the sky because
if you should happen to miss, you’ll still be among the stars.〞
41. A. toys B. jokes C. school D. games
42. A. special B. realistic C. possible D. expensive
43. A. worked B. attempted C. labored D. struggled
44. A. luck B. plan C. reach D. control
45. A. settle B. mean C. agree D. stay
46. A. mind B. decision C. way D. solution
47. A. lots B. lack C. little D. plenty
48. A. fit B. suit C. qualify D. answer
49. A. admission B. entrance C. reception D. permission
50. A. carefully B. eagerly C. cheerfully D. impatiently
51. A. filled B. flowed C. poured D. flashed
52. A. sad B. thrilled C. satisfied D. anxious
53. A. offer B. afford C. reward D. produce
54. A. give away B. give in C. give up D. give out
55. A. ordered B. asked C. requested D. suggested
56. A. as B. when C. while D. before
57. A. won B. awarded C. allowed D. accepted
58. A. loss B. puzzle C. confusion D. shock
59. A. working B. making C. learning D. majoring
60. A. teacher B. student C. parent D. friend
第 II 卷
第三局部英语知识运用〔一共两节,满分是 45 分〕
第二节〔一共 10 小题;每一小题 1.5 分,满分是 15 分〕
阅读下面材料,在空白处填入适当的内容〔1 个单词〕或者括号内单词的正确形式。
Australia scientists want to build what they describe as a “downward looking telescope〞
61 (look) for mineral wealth under the Earth’s surface. The “telescope〞
is really a project aimed at increasing understanding of 62 geology, or physical structure, of Australia. They intend to combine different kinds of geological information and create a 3-D map of the
Earth’s interior ( 内部 ), showing details of rocks and minerals to a 63 (deep) of at least 300 kilometers underneath.
The Australian Academy of Sciences 64 (release) details of the project earlier this month. It is part of a 10-year plan for increasing geological science research. The plan recognizes the importance of mobile technology, 65 (renew) energy and other technologies, like those 66 (need) for electric vehicles. Researchers say development of these technologies will lead to a huge increase in demand 67 some minerals. They include copper, cobalt, gold and 68 are called rare-earth elements. Sue O’Reilly, a member of Australian Academy of Sciences, described the mapping project this way. “W e are able to map the geology of the interior of the Earth just like we currently map 69 (it) surface by walking over it and 70 (physical) looking at the rocks that we see.〞
第四局部写作〔一共两节,满分是 35 分〕
第一节短文改错〔一共 10 小题;每一小题 1 分,满分是 10 分〕
假定英语课上教师要求同桌之间交换修改作文,请你修改你同桌写的以下作文,文中一共有
10 处语言错误,每句中最多有两处,每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删改或者修改。
增加:在缺词处加一个漏字符号〔Λ〕,并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除:把多余的词用斜线〔\〕划掉。
修改:在错的词下划一横线,并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意:1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词;
2. 只允许修改 10 处,多者〔从第 11 处起〕不计分。
Decades ago, very small cars in Japan were meant for people which searched for a low-cost form of transportation. Surprising, these minicars have instead become popular with other group of drivers: older adults.
Honda’s N-Box model car, for example, is very small. Equipping with advanced technology, the car is safe and easy to drive. Carmakers have hoped that young people can be persuaded buy minicars. However, about half of the owners are 50 years old or older. Besides, a number of Japanese drivers under 30 has fallen down by nearly 40 percent since 2021. Minicars are not expensive but ownership taxes are low. So the cars had gained popularity with Japan’s growing number of the elderly. One out of every three passengers cars sold in Japan is a minicar.
第二节书面表达〔满分是25分〕
假定你是李华,你的澳大利亚朋友 Alex 听说你校刚刚举办了运动会,来信询问你相关情况。
请给他回信,内容包括:
运动会的时间是、地点;
主要比赛工程;
你最喜欢的工程及理由。
注意: 1. 词数 100 左右: 2. 可以适当增加细节,以使行文连接。
七中 2021-2021 学年度上期高 2021 届半期考试
英语答案
1-5 BCCCB 6-10 BABCB 11-15 CACAB 16-20 BAABC
21-23 DAB
24-27 CBDD 28-31 CCAB 32-35 ACDB
36-40 CADEG
41-45 CDDCA 46-50 BBCAB 51-55 ADBCC 56-60 BADDA
61. to look 62. the 63. depth 64. released 65. renewable
66. needed 67. for 68. what 69. its 70. physically
短文改错
Decades ago, very small cars in Japan were meant for people which searched for a low-cost
who/that
form of transportation. Surprising, these minicars have instead become popular with other group of
Surprisingly another
drivers: older adults.
Honda’s N-Box model car, for example, is very small. Equipping with advanced technology,
Equipped
the car is safe and easy to drive. Carmakers have hoped that young people can be persuaded∧ buy
添加 to minicars. However, about half of the owners are 50 years old or older. Besides, a number of Japanese
the
under 30 has fallen down by nearly 40 percent since 2021. Minicars are not expensive but ownership
去掉 down and
taxes are low. So the cars had gained popularity with Japan’s growing number of the
have
elderly. One out of every three passengers cars sold in Japan is a minicar.
passenger
书面表达
Dear Alex,
I am delighted to know you are interested in our school sports meeting. I am writing to tell you something about it.
The annual sports meeting, lasting two days, is usually held on the school playground in October
when the weather is pleasant and mild. There are a wide range of sports events, among which track and field makes up a greater part. Athletes can choose the individual or team events. Besides the competitive games, some wonderful performances are put on as well, definitely the highlight in my eyes. Also, the class relay races are my favorite event because it’s really exciting to cheer up our classmates and watch them dash towards the destination.
Do you have the similar school sports event? Looking forward to your reply. Best wishes!
Yours,
Li Hua
听力原文:
Text 1
W: It was so beautiful when we woke up today, but then it got cloudy in the afternoon.
M: Tomorrow morning, it will be windy with a chance of rain. But it will be clear and sunny around midday.
Text 2
M: I can’t turn up the television sound any higher, and I still can’t hear what the announcers are saying.
W: I’m sorry. I’ll go in the other room to talk on the phone. Text 3
M: I’d like to buy this shirt using my gift card. I’m not sure how much is left on it, though. W: It looks like $3. OK, after using the gift card, I just need another dollar from you.
Text 4
W: When I was in France, the people weren’t very nice. It was the opposite in Thailand, wasn’t it?
M: I agree. The only problem was that we went when it was really hot. The food was very good, though.
Text 5
M: You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself, honey. You are the best person for the job, and the most prepared.
W: But there are so many people applying! Can you go into the bedroom and pick something out for me?
Text 6
W: Hello, everyone. Hand me your passports. What is the purpose of your visit? M: We are taking our kids to a music festival in Seattle.
W: So, you have a place to stay while you are there?
M: We’ll be staying at the Sandman Hotel for a couple of nights, and then we will g o to my Mother’s house.
W: When will you be returning to Vancouver? M: We are planning to be back by Wednesday. W: Will you be bringing back any alcohol or food items? M: No, just the toys that their grandmother gives them. W: All right. Drive safely, and have a happy holiday. M: Me, too.
Text7
W: I received this package yesterday, but there is no name on it. There is only a sticker with a long string of numbers and letters. I wanted to thank the person who sent it to me, so I was hoping you could get me their information.
M: Well, it was definitely delivered by us. That sticker is something post offices use to communicate with each other. Can you tell me what was in the package? W: Just books, but they’re all ones I’ve always wanted to read. Clearly, the sender knows me.
Is there anyone you can call?
M: Let me look on the computer… it was originally sent from Paris, but it seems the box was damaged once it arrived in the U.S.
W: I see.
M: The post office in Washington D.C. put it into a new box and sent it here to Philadelphia. The sender’s information should come up on my screen shortly.
Text 8
W: Hi, Brent. My name is Charlene. Welcome to Bayside High. I’ll give you a brief tour of our school. I see you’ve just met our gym teacher.
M: Yes, Mr. Hooper, ri ght? He’s very nice. He told me he is also the basketball coach.
W: That’s right. Do you play? The season has only just begun, so I’m sure you can play if you are interested.
M: I enjoy watching basketball, but I’m afraid I can’t play that well. I am more interested in the video club.
W: Great. I’ll introduce you to Mrs. Lang later. She is the head of the video department. M: Cool. Are you a member of a club, too?
W: I’m planning on joining the book club at the end of the year, and I play on the volleyball team.
Would you like to see your classroom?
M: Sure.
W: Room 418. It’s right across from the computer lab. If you forget where it is, just come find me.
My classroom is across from the gymnasium. Come on. I’ll take you up to the 2nd floor.
Text 9
M: Why are you eating your lunch in my science lab, Maria?
W: I was carrying my lunch tray back to my seat, and then I hit something with my foot and fell.
My food went everywhere, and everyone started laughing. I can’t go back to the cafeteria.
M: Oh, that’s nothi ng. People will forget about that in no time. I have a story for you. Would you
like to hear it? w: OK.
M: When I was your age, there was a girl I liked. One day I saw her walking towards me on the sidewalk. I pretended I was looking at something else, and forgot to look where I was going. Boom! I bumped right into a pole!
W: Ha-ha. Forgive me for laughing. What did you do then? She must have seen what happened.
M: Oh, she saw I was bleeding from a cut on my head and she gave me her handkerchief from her pu rse. We walked home together that day, and you know what? We’re married now.
W: That’s a really cool story.
M: My point is sometimes these things happen and they might seem terrible at first --- but they don’t make you who you are. If you are able to laugh about it, sometimes you can turn a bad situation into a good one.
W: You sound just like my dad. I guess you’re right.
M: Of course I am. Now go back in there and sit with your friends, before the headmaster finds out you’re in here.
Text 10
At one time, Australia was believed to be the southernmost continent. Explorers would
not sail further south, because of the cold temperatures and icy waters. Then in 1820, a Russian explorer named Mikhail Lazarev saw something that looked like an island of ice. Later that year, England’s Edward Bransfield and an American named Nathaniel Palmer saw something similar. It was Antarctica, the seventh continent and fifth largest in the world, behind South America. Antarctica is higher above sea level than the other continents, and made almost entirely of ice. Although it has mountains, volcanoes, and even lakes beneath its surface, scientists prefer to call it a desert of ice. Conditions are so extreme that only a few types of birds live there. Today, Antarctica is used only for research purposes. International laws will not allow any military exercises, mining, or dumping of waste. Instead, around four thousand scientists from fifty countries use the land to learn more about the oceans, the stars, and climate change. They ha ve learned that 90% of the world’s fresh water is in the ice. There is no doubt that the research being done in Antarctica is of great importance to our planet.。